Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-05-05
DIOCESAN UNION.

W nkAt OMAHLOIhRA k&tSaSpShFANfNN s~hse II
and lhe EsAsIon ssDemocral'' Say
The Easton, Md, Democrat of Saturday
g fairly loaded with matter relative to the
consolidation Of the at present
bishopless dioceses of Delaware and
Easton. First comes letter of over
columns length from the Hon. James
Alfred Pearoe, Chancellor of the Easton
diocese, who writes in vein of hostility |
to the proposition. He begins by quoting |
Section 1, Of Canon XIV, of which he |
SAYS that mo argument isneeded to show |
that Easton and Delaware, with 81 and
80 presbyters respectively, cannot be
brought within the scope of this canon,
which is manifestly adapted to the case
of such dioceses as, from war, pesti-
lenees, or other extraordinary causes,
should fall into decay Chancellor Pearce
then continues
The proposition advanced by "RectoI" In
the Wilmington EVERY EVENING and repro
dueed In the last issue OF the Centreville
Record, for thu formation OF a single new
diocese from the two, may be permissible,
but Is not clear or unquestionable.
Article of the constitution of the church
provides that "no new diocese shall be
formed or erected within the limits of any
other diocese, nor shall any diocese be
formed by the junction of two or more do
eeses or parts Of dioceses unless with the
consent OF the bishop and convention OF
the diseases concerned as we'll Ms the gene
raj convention"
This article seems to contemplate action
In the premises only by "a fully organized
and equipped diocese, that is one fully rep
resented by a bishop, clergy and laity the
combined Judgment Of each order In the
diocese being invoked before the new do
COCO ~" hr Nonst'tH'i0Hr'''' i0'rAt 7rt !
stsg.5 W 4tH as aWJAEy Eri u4sl 70 Fe q
I sal 6F4 .a-Lis L whether su'h action 3Gt ln
/ taken by diocese without bishop. A
| diocese may have valid and perfect con-
yention without bishop, but this article
requires the consent not only ofthe eonven-
tlon but OF the bishop also,
Canon ID of Title l, clearly contemplates
the right to associate two dtoceses where
neither has the requisite number of presby-
tiers to entitle such diocese to the choice Of
bishop; but In case of such association
each dioceses remains unconnected and In
dependent of each other" and such asso
citation ls "Ipso facto" dissolved upon the
demise OF the bishop chosen by the asso
elated diocese, and may be dissolved when
ever one of such dioeeses is canontcall,
qualified to elect bishop for itself.
But the result OF the union of two do
ceses under article of the constitution
the extinguishment of the autonomy of eael
| OF the dioceees thus emerged, and IN
formation OF one entirely new diocese. ]
each Of the dioceses has bishop 1t dis
, places one Of these, and thus affects tn
organization of the whole church and
, the house of bishops. Enough has bee
said think to show that this question ir
wolves matter OF grave import to the churc
> and that should 1t be formally presented I
the conventions of Delaware and Easton,
: will tax the best resources OF each body
/ meet 1t In the spirit OF wisdom and hal
mony. Without precipitattng any discu
sion of the question L cannot refrain frol
2 saying for myself that can perceive I
I adequate reason for the movement.
To which DIR. E. j. Stearns reptile
= saying directly to the main point
issue:
Why is the consent OF the bishop T
quired Because he Is one OF the partl
affected by the junction" But In the ca
supposed, the present case OF both Del
e ware and ERston, there is no bishop to
Is affected hence, no consent of bishop
dulred; eessante ratione legis, cessat Up
N lex. II the well known injunction OF
Ignatius, "Do nothing without the BishoI
Il had been economically binding on the d
q cese OF Easton, and had been interpreted
10 our chancellor is inclined to interpret t
10 constitutional provision In question,
c. death OF the bishop would have paralyz
to the diocese; It could not have taken
m first step toward getting another. ~
Ia Interpretation would require vacant d
i cese that wanted to be joined TO anoth
~ first to get bishop OF It's own, ana 10
~ ask that bishop to consent to commit h
'r- kari,
re And the Easton Democrat, referring
~ an anti-consolidation editorial utteral
no Of the Delaware Democrat, says:
4